Depth Gauges

A depth gauge is basically a device that gives a constant readout which displays the equivalent depth in water. Depth gauges come in two different flavours, either mechanical or digital. Digital ones use a transducer to measure the depth of the water, whereas mechanical on use a diaphragm or Bourdon tube. Mechanical gauges have a second hand pointer that moves in conjunction with the depth indicator the deeper a diver goes. When a diver begins their ascent, this secondary pointer will constantly display the maximum depth which was reached on the dive in order to maintain a record of how far down the diver has gone for safety purposes.

When you’re looking to purchase a depth gauge, it’s vitally important to choose one that’s made from robust materials. For safety purposes, the depth gauge should display a clear readout that’s easy to read underwater, such as our Apeks Triple Gauge Depth. At the very least, buyers should test the depth gauge using their mask before diving to ensure that its display is clear. Once you’re underwater, it’ll be too late to test it, and if you’ve purchased equipment that’s of inferior quality, it could jeopardise your safety.

Diving Console

A diving console, or diving computer will provide real-time information in order to ensure that divers are operating within the safest conditions possible. A standard diving console will display information that’s critical such as depth, no stop time remaining, data about previous dives, ascent rate, current start and end air pressure and the amount of time you’ve been on your dive. Consoles come in various different styles and designs. As with depth gauges, it’s very important to invest in a diving console which displays information in a format which easy for you to understand. Some divers prefer information to be displayed numerically, or in charts and graphs.

Because there’s a lot of variation in terms of the different designs that are out there, you should choose one that will prominently display drive critical information that can be viewed at a moment’s glance. The console should be easy to navigate underwater in terms of its interface and its buttons, and should be made of robust material. A great example of a diving console is our Mares Mission Puck 2 Console. This console is made of shock resistant elastomeric technopolymer. This type of console is suitable for both freshwater and salt water environments, which is important, as not all consoles are designed for the two different types of water.

Diving Compasses

Diving compasses are one of the most important pieces of equipment that you’ll need to purchase in order to make sure that you know exactly where you’re going when you’re diving. An underwater diving compass essentially works in the same way as a regular compass, with the only main difference being that it works underwater. Underwater navigation is an essential part of diving for professional divers. It’s important because it helps in developing the confidence of divers. It also reduces swimming time, makes planning more effective and also reduces air consumption.

Compasses are available as a standalone product, or they can be purchased in combination with other devices such as a gauge depth or a pressure gauge. They can either be worn on the wrist, or as a standalone device. An example of a good quality wrist compass is our Northern Diver Wrist Compass. It’s comfortable, ergonomic and it provides a clear display. Although some experienced divers who know locations fairly well often use underwater landmarks to locate their position, we would recommend that professionally qualified divers should invest in a diving compass, as it just makes diving safer, and it gives that extra piece of mind when it comes to navigation.